Pink Diva is continuing our series of interviews with LPGA Futures Tour player Brittany Johnston! After playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open Championships at Broadmoor, Brittany gained the confidence in her game and won the Futures Tour ING New England Golf Classic.
“Maybe I’m rising in my potential a little late, but my dad, who’s my coach, has always believed I was capable of winning,” said Johnston “During the Open, I realized that I was on the range with the top 156 players in the world, and it felt like I belonged.”
Brittany Johnston, LPGA Futures Tour Player. Photo courtesy of Brittany Johnston.
First of all a BIG congratulations on your first career win on the LPGA Futures Tour! Can you tell me a bit about the ING England Classic tournament and what it felt like to get this first win?
Thanks! It was an awesome week for me. I had just come from playing in my first U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked there, but learned a ton from the experience. I gained a lot of confidence in myself and my game, being there and competing in a LPGA major. I brought patience and a new outlook with me to Connecticut and was able to capitalize on all that I had learned. I had played all season trying to force birdies and put a lot of pressure on myself to have a good finish every week. Winning this event proved to me not only that I’m capable of winning on this tour, but also that my game is ready to take to the next level.
Tell us a little about yourself – age, hometown, where you live now, college, etc.
I am 25 years old and am from Akron, Ohio. I attended Northwestern University and graduated in 2008. I majored in Political Science and played on golf scholarship all 4 years. I now live half the year in Palm Springs, CA and the other half in Ohio and on the road traveling to tournaments.
You come from a golfing family – can you tell us about that, and when you started playing golf?
Yes, my dad has been the head pro at Portage Country Club in Akron for 28 years. He has been my main coach and instructor, since I started playing. Golf was never something my parents forced on me, but have supported me 100 percent, once I made the decision to play. I didn’t fully commit to golf until high school, but since then it has been a huge part of my life. Through high school, college, and now professional golf, my parents have made my golf career a family endeavor, each helping me in any way they can. It’s great to be able to have my dad help me over the phone no matter where I am, since he has built my swing from day one.
Brittany Johnston won her first LPGA Futures Tournament at the 2011 ING New England Golf Classic in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
What year did you join the LPGA Futures tour? What has been your biggest challenge on Tour?
I joined the LPGA Futures Tour in 2008, but due to tendinitis in my wrist did not play much of 2008 or 2009. This is my first full season on tour. The biggest challenge so far has been all of the travel. Being on the road for almost 10 weeks straight now is difficult. Hotels, restaurants, and lots of miles on the road gets tiring. But it’s hard to complain when my office is the golf course!
Do you have a favorite LPGA player?
I don’t have one favorite LPGA Player. I have a lot of respect for each and every one of them that has gotten to that level. It is the goal of all of us out here on the Futures Tour to accomplish what they have.
What part of your game are you working the hardest on?
Over the past two seasons, I have worked a lot on my swing trying to get more consistent, but even more so on my mental game. Learning how to mentally fight back from a bad round or overcome a bad stretch of holes has really improved my overall game. I feel like my mental game has become an asset instead of the obstacle it was a year ago. I know I can win and as long as I approach every day believing that, good things happen!
Tell us something most people don’t know about you?
When I have some time away from golf, running and cooking are my favorite hobbies.
Photos courtesy of Brittany Johnston.
Who would be in your dream foursome and why?
Tiger, Jack, and Arnie. I would love to play with the best that have ever played the game and made it what it is today. I’d love to learn from their experiences!
If you could impact women’s golf, what would you want your legacy to be?
I would teach young girls to believe in themselves and follow their dreams – you never know where the game of golf can take you.
What’s in your golf bag?
Driver: Cleveland TL 310, 10.5 degrees, Miyazaki 39 graphite shaft, stiff flex
Fairway Woods: Sonartec 3-wood (15 degrees), Fujikura Tour Platform Series graphite shaft, regular flex; Cleveland Mashie hybrids 20.5 degrees and 23 degrees, Miyazaki 83 graphite shafts, regular flex
Irons: Cleveland CG16 5-iron through pitching wedge; True Temper Dynamic Gold SL steel shafts, regular flex
Wedges: Cleveland CG16 52, 56 and 60 degrees, Nippon NS Pro steel shafts, regular flex
Putter: Odyssey White Ice Rossie, 33-inch length
Brittany Johnston in Loudmouth shorts. Photo courtesy of Brittany Johnston.
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B330-RX
Grips: Golf Pride
Bag: Cleveland staff bag
Shoes: FootJoy
Spikes: CHAMP
Glove: Srixon
Eyewear: Sundog
Apparel: 4All by jofit; Loudmouth Golf
Visor/Hat Contract: Pukka
Other/sponsors: Bridgestone, Cleveland, Pukka
Brittany’s Interview on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive
Good luck the rest of year on the LPGA Futures Tour Brittany! We hope to see you on the LPGA very soon!
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Support the LPGA and the Futures Tour – attend an upcoming tournament! Bring a friend, and especially a young golfer girl!
View the LPGA Futures Tour schedule for the rest of the year and join the Road to the LPGA Facebook page.
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